The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine is suing a handful of fast-food restaurant chains that include Burger King Holdings, Inc (NYSE: BKC) and McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) for serving grilled chicken that they claim is carcinogenic. The PCRM is saying that chicken products from these chains were tested and found to test positive for certain carcinogenic compounds.The Center for Consumer Freedom begs to differ about the PCRM's claims and points out the PCRM is not a mainstream health organization, with one of PCRM's primary aims including making all Americans eat vegetarian. You can see PCRM's website dismissing animal protein as a viable food source here, and if you take the time to wander through the site, it's the only diet ever recommended, making the CCF's claim that the PCRM is a somewhat radicalized PETA/Animal rights group gone a bit far something to take seriously.
There's a further interesting note. The PCRM does not compare regularly grilled chicken from home (ie on your own BBQ grill) to the rates of carcinogens found in the fast food restaurant. It's not a secret that charred food contains a small number of carcinogens in it. PCRM does not say if fast food charring has more than a burnt piece of chicken you cooked yourself or not. PCRM is certainly trying to use scare tactics to alter American eating habits, and its being untruthful (or at least very disingenuous) in its presentation of the issue. A big problem for the fast food chains? No, your stock will probably not be affected by this bogus suit.
But I propose a test. Let's get Morgan Spurlock (of Supersize Me fame) to eat nothing but grilled chicken from fast food restaurants for a month and see how his health is affected...
Tobias Buckell is an author, freelancer, and professional blogger who does not own securities in McDonalds or Burger King.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
9-30-2006 @ 6:14AM
wha said...
whatever. now we know everything causes cancer.
9-30-2006 @ 6:24AM
Jess said...
hah those peta people will try anything to get you to stop eating meat.
9-30-2006 @ 6:32AM
Adam said...
How come anyone with a letterhead and a frivolous lawsuit can get press coverage? If they had to pay the accused's legal fees, if the case is thrown out,- they'd never be filed in the first place!
9-30-2006 @ 6:40AM
Renee said...
PETA=People Eating Tasty Animals
9-30-2006 @ 6:42AM
Damato said...
Grilled vegetables contain small amounts of carcinogens too.
9-30-2006 @ 6:43AM
paul said...
MMMMMMMMMMM I'M ENJOING THE BEST STEAK I HAD IN A WHILE!!!!MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
9-30-2006 @ 6:45AM
paul said...
AND THESE EGGS. WHOOP!! I HOPE THEIR NOT BAD FOR ME
9-30-2006 @ 6:47AM
paul said...
NOW CHICKEN FOR DESSERT!!! YESSSS!! AHOLES
9-30-2006 @ 6:51AM
Norwood said...
I believe grilled chicken should be significantly less carcinogenic than sausage and bacon. I hope we can focus on truly toxic food and substance. There are many chemicals in our life that we should be talking about. Let's not get digressed here.
9-30-2006 @ 6:53AM
liz Nielsen said...
As much as I can respect someones views to avoid all meat,I can not help but remember 2 beautiful people ,Linda McCartney and Dana Reeves,Both who lived as healthy as one could,Linda,writing many books on veggitarism,and sadly both died of different forms of cancer,so ,me ,as never having any medical background am convinced its not in the food but in the jeans.
9-30-2006 @ 6:55AM
liz Nielsen said...
jeans should have been genes,sorry
9-30-2006 @ 6:55AM
Liz said...
Ludicrous lawsuits...it's not about meat, but greedy lawyers
9-30-2006 @ 6:56AM
Orchyde said...
Ummm ok gotta love some dumb group who doesnt understand that humans are omnivores. Just look at our teeth. The front are for "flesh tearing" and the molars are for chewing and grinding aka vegetables. If humans were meant to be vegetarians then we would have the same teeth as cows, horses, sheep, and so on. The grazing herbivores. I am sooo sick and tired of hearing about oooh its cruel to animals. Umm if a cow could eat you I am sure it would and doesnt care if its cruel or hurts. Its survival of the most fit and we are on the top of the chain. And I love how peta people wear leather, eat jello, eat things with red dye (comes from crushed beetles), use vaccines and medicines that are derived from animals (insulin, flu shot). Just as long as you dont eat the flesh you can use the rest huh.
9-30-2006 @ 7:04AM
kevin said...
u only live once...might as well enjoy...and eat what u want to eat....i could go for a T-BONE right now.....
9-30-2006 @ 7:17AM
Charles Cooper said...
AOL continues to be used by PETA to publicize their outlandish claims. Come on AOL give us a break.
9-30-2006 @ 7:22AM
Susan said...
Wow, that sure makes me hungry for a chicken sandwich at McDonalds. I know where I'm eating for lunch!
9-30-2006 @ 7:26AM
John Gaffney said...
PETA - If we are not meant to eat animals. Then please explain to me why they are made of meat.
9-30-2006 @ 7:31AM
kevinbgood621 said...
Some more reasons to avoid Mickey Ds'
1. That annoying Smirk that comes with " Can I take your order?"
2. They are coming out with "chilled" fries"
3. I know whats in the special sauce -- you don't wanna' know !!!
4. Beef paties are 50 % composed of Recycled tires
5. Nobody washes their hands anymore
6. Added "bird flu " menu recently
7. Really a cover for off-track betting
8. Has Mandatory hiring of Crack heads
9. Bosses are trained in Iraq
10. You heard this before -- Fries are fried in goat saliva
9-30-2006 @ 7:32AM
Amanda said...
I am a fruitarian ~~ we believe that fruit and vegtitables feel pain as well and vegitables should not not be eaten until they fall from tree alread dead of there own natural causes.
(see Notting Hill)
9-30-2006 @ 7:32AM
Karen Pate said...
It's time people quit picking on the tobacco users, carcinogens are everywhere, it's not just second hand smoke causing cancers! I live close to an airport and anyone can come see how black my white gutters are from the spent jet fuel! Not to mention the ommissions from all the cars and trucks in my neighborhood. We are all guilty of causing carcinogens not just a select few. If your so concerned about fresh air turn in your car keys and buy a bicycle! Then I will listen to you.